I’ve been listening to these sampler
non-stop since I got it from Michael few days ago, just because it’s a
damn good bunch of tracks which reflects that progressive music is still
alive and beating strongly. Thus I couldn’t resist not to say a few
words about the tracks we have presented here.

Systematically, Haken’s track is by
default the natural opener and for that choosing this one to kick off
the sampler is a smart move. Grandiose in every possible segment, being
epic and developing all the way from beginning by its end, it’s a good
representative of how progressive rock sounds in the 21st century.

Fusion metal is pretty new subgenre in a
vast progressive field and if there are two bands at the moment which
hold the primacy in the moment, then certainly these are Exivious and
Relocator. Although structurally different this package will be a real
delicacy for all gourmets. Effloresce and Theory of Elements with their
understanding of progressive metal make it clear that there is brand new
potential out there with tendency to progress further, and their two
tracks show such indicatons. Speaking of To-Mera, they were announced to
play the festival, but the decision was made to withdraw. Anyhow,
including them on this sampler is a nice way to pay the tribute to one
of the modern bringers of prog.

Andromeda

And finally we come to the centerpiece
of this sampler, as well the headliner of the Generation Prog 2011
festival – the Swedish progressive metal heroes Andromeda. Including
this monstrous slab of high prolific prog metal is, to put it simply,
the best thing ever. Discussing the tracklist of the compilation with
Michael, we agreed on that this song is among best prog metal pieces of
the new millennium. ’nuff said. I’m blown away!